The Euro 2016 qualifying match in Belgrade in October 2014 was abandoned with the score goalless after fighting broke out between players, fans and team officials on the pitch of the Partizan Stadium.

The brawl, which involved representatives of both sides and pitch invaders from the stands, arose after the drone lowered a flag bearing an insignia of “Greater Albania”. It was caught by the Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic.

Uefa reacted to the incidents by ordering Albania to forfeit the match, while Serbia were given a 3-0 default win. However, Serbia were also deducted three points and ordered to host two qualifiers in an empty stadium. Both countries were fined €100,000.

CAS considered the incidents and responded by rejecting the appeal filed by the Serbian FA, upholding in part an appeal filed by Albania’s FA, and deeming the match to have been forfeited by Serbia instead.

CAS ruled that Serbia were responsible for the game not being completed, and confirmed their deduction of three points – while also awarding Albania the 3-0 win. Based on the ruling, it means Albania are now level on 10 points with second-place Denmark in Group I, which is led by Portugal. Serbia will now be last, with minus two points.

In its ruling, CAS said: “The panel found that the match stoppage and the eventual abandonment of the match were caused by security lapses of the organisers and acts of violence exerted on the Albanian players by the Serbian fans and at least one security steward. As such, the panel holds that the Football Association of Serbia and not the Football Association of Albania must be considered as responsible for the match not being played in full.”

Serbia v Albania: the flag and the fury as match abandoned – in pictures

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Albania’s FA will still have to pay their €100,000 fine after CAS agreed with Uefa that “the FAA was responsible for the drone operated during the match, carrying a banner depicting Albanian nationalistic and patriotic symbols”.

Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, wrote on Facebook. “That is European justice! 3 points for the Red-and-Black National Team in Belgrade!!!” The Albania coach, Giovanni de Biasi, said: “Justice is in its place. I am very happy, of course because when justice triumphs everybody is happy.”

The countries are scheduled for a return match in Albania on 8 October.

The ruling makes the pursuit of the two automatic qualification places for the Euro 2016 finals in France tighter, with Denmark ahead of Albania only on goal difference but with a game in hand. The Denmark coach Morten Olsen told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet: “To me it is completely incomprehensible. Things apparently go against us all the time.”